In Search of the Bennett Pottery of Bath: Tracing an Elusive Early 19th-Century Maine Pottery

While in Maine over the weekend, I found some fascinating pieces of nineteenth century red earthenware. One was a mug-shaped pitcher—which I posted to Instagram last night—likely produced by the North Yarmouth pottery industry. However, I discovered another pitcher near Wiscasset that is undoubtedly related to a smaller, similarly formed piece I found years ago, which has an ownership history tied to an old home near downtown Bath. Taken together, these objects may represent rare surviving examples from Bath's Bennett Pottery, an operation active when Maine was still part of Massachusetts. Very little is known today about this pottery's archaeology or documented pieces.

William S. Bennett (1781-1857) was born in New Hampshire around 1781 and became an active potter and resident of Wiscasset, Maine, by 1805. In August of that year, he purchased a Wiscasset property containing a "Potter's Shop & tools" from Andrew and Sarah (Dodge) Porter of Danvers, Massachusetts, for ninety dollars. Because this land was adjacent to Ezra Porter’s property and a pot shop formerly belonging to Benjamin Porter, Bennett was likely employed by the Porters or had served an apprenticeship under them. The Porters were also descendants of the Osborns of Danvers. Although in May 1808, Bennett announced his intention to marry Pamelia (or Pamela) Cennet in Wiscasset, but by March 1813, a William Bennett of Bath was recorded marrying Mary Bagley.

By May 1815, Bennett had permanently relocated his business to Bath, purchasing land from shipwright David Trufant and expanding his real estate with additional adjacent tracts bought in 1817 and 1821. On these properties, situated south of Rope Walk Creek, he established the Bennett Pottery, which employed other notable local craftsmen including John Corliss around 1820 and John Safford 2d. 

An 1827 mortgage obtained by Bennett on his Bath property conclusively links his identity back to his earlier career, stating that the mortgaged land was the exact same property he had originally purchased from the Porter heirs back in Wiscasset. The 1820 Federal Census also shows that his Bath household included his family alongside three young males between the ages of ten and twenty-five, who were likely working at his pottery as apprentices or journeymen potters. Bennett died on February 18, 1857 and is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery in Bath.

Furthermore, although difficult to photograph, the glaze on the larger pitcher contains numerous small, metallic-like particles that sparkle a gold color in sunlight. This marks the fourth such example I have observed, with two of the previous pieces discovered further north along the Maine coast.

Note: For more information about North Yarmouth - see my seventh book, From One Town Came Many: The Red Earthenware Industry of North Yarmouth, Maine - https://historicbeverly.net/product/from-one-town-came-many-the-red-earthenware-industry-of-ancient-north-yarmouth-maine/.

Early 19th Century Red Earthenware Pitchers Made Along Coastal Maine

Possibly Made at the Bennett Pottery in Bath, Maine

Perhaps Circa 1820

Largest Found in the Wiscasset Area

Smaller Retains History of Ownership in an Old House in Bath, Maine

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A View of the Handles

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Please Stay Tuned...Much More to Come...